Tuesday, 13 August, 2024
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Councillor Angela Long will be defending her long-held Cleeland Ward seat. (Gary Sissons: 424035)
Keysborough South Ward councillor Rhonda Garad is seeking to shift into Cleeland Ward. (Gary Sissons: 423823)
Crs to do battle By Sahar Foladi Two pairs of sitting councillors are set to go headto-head at the upcoming Greater Dandenong Council elections in October. Councillors Rhonda Garad and Angela Long are set for a face-off in Cleeland Ward, as are deputy mayor Richard Lim and Sean O’Reilly in Springvale North Ward. In Cleeland, Cr Garad believes she can be a strong and loud voice for the residents while the incumbent Cr Long moves to defend her territory. Cr Garad - who is shifting from Keysborough South Ward - says she’s running “for Cleeland Ward” and not “against Angela.” “It’s not about Angela, it’s about what people need. “I’ve had conversations with people. They feel there isn’t a strong voice standing up for people particularly in the top-end sections (north of Da-
vid and Clow Streets, including Dandenong High School, Dandenong Hospital and Dandenong Market). “It’s time somebody became a strong voice for this area and people can see that I do make a profile. I will be that loud voice and people have seen that demonstrated. “I think I have a strong voice and have a strong chance but you never know at an election. It’s unknown until that last vote is cast.” She has lived in Cleeland Ward for the past 30 years saying she has “watched a lot of deterioration” numbering the Dandenong Community Hub and Dandenong Market as the two main reasons she’s running for the seat. “We used to have toy library maternity centres. We’ve seen that go with no replacement. “Whist other parts of the municipalities received a lot of things like community facilities I
watched our area lose a lot of community facilities. I think that it’s very concerning because we have a very high need and the population will be doubled within the next decade.” Running as a Greens Party member in the council elections, Cr Garad says Covid highlighted the importance of green spaces and actions like mapping needs to be done to ensure “adequate tree planting” and a proper maintenance of parks. While Cr Garad thinks she may have a “strong chance” to win the Cleeland seat, Cr Long is a long-term councillor of more than two decades who currently holds the Cleeland seat. Cr Garad counters the “long-term councillor” argument saying, “this is not about an individual’s rights over the role, it’s about what’s best for Dandenong.” At least three ALP members are running for the popular ward - Cr Long, refugee advocate of 30 years Wicki Wickiramasingham and Yarraman by-
election candidate Zahra Haydarbig. Councillor Long has served as a councillor for 24 years, a three-time mayor (most recently 2020-21) and has lived in the same house in City of Greater Dandenong for the past 53 years where her family grew and her children attended the local schools. Initially, she was disappointed to hear of Cr Garad’s plans but believes “everyone has the same right” to run. “You can’t come in after a couple of months and think people will support you. I’m a very strong voice for the Cleeland Ward and have been for a number of years.” Although not endorsed by the Australian Labor Party, she is a life member, the vice president of the ALP Dandenong branch and a “very active member for over 40 years.” Continued page 6
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